Vacuum-actuated spring-winding device



Apri] 22, 1941. s. MlLoNE 2,239,334

VACUUM-ACTUATED SPRING-WINDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 Irspfeint-S VACUUM-ACTUATED SPRING-VINDING DEVICE.

This invention relate-s to spring-winding devices and, more particularly, to a.- devce of this character which may be made extremely small, com-pact and suitable for use inwinding the clocks of automobiles. Y

An important object of theinvention is the production of an apparatus of this character which may be operated by suctionfrom the intakev manifold of the engine after thema-nner of operation of wind-shield wipers, and which may be readily adapted to the ordinary dashV clock without material change in the structure there- Another and important object of the invention v is the provision of a winding mechanism which,

when the spring of the clock or other mechanism which is being wound has` attained a predetermined tension, will be rendered inoperative but which will immediately resume its operationr when the spring tension has been slghtlyre- "H- lieved, thereby insuring the maintenance of the spring at the tension at which itl has maximum efiiciency. v

O-ther objects of a device of this character-Which may be very cheaply manufactured, and which will be durable and efficient in operation. v

These and other objectsA I attain by `the con struction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have? shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and. wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a spring-winding mechthe invention are to provide A;

anism constructed in. accordance with my inl vention;

Fig. 2V is a side elevation thereof;

F'ig.. 2a is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 and showing a second position of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the diaphragm chamber;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the winding and stop control arm; f

the spring through gearing generally designated at' I2. The upper end of shaft lfl is equipped with a ratchet disc i3 having associated therewith a holding pawl t4 and an operating pawl l5 mounted upon an arm IB oscillating about the shaft l l as a center. The outer end of this arm is provided with a fork Il Ithe purpose of which will presently appear.

Mounted upon the frame I8 supporting the mechanism just described, as by means of standards I3, is a diaphragm chamber 2i) the diaphragm 2l of which is no-rmally maintained in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 through medium of a spring 22. The diaphragm chamber is illustrated as provided with a tube 23 which may be connected to a source of suction as, for example, the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine (not herein illustrated).

Mounted centrally upon the diaphragm is a valve yoke 24 having upper and lower arms 25 and 23, said lower arm being tubular and being extended lthrough and sealed to the diaphragm as at 2l. The upper arm 25 guides the stem of a valve 23 which normally is spring-seated at the upper end of the bore 29 of the lower arm. The upper end of this valve stem is provided with a grooved collar 3i), the purpose of which will presently appear. The lower arm 26 has the eX- tension 3l. provided near its end with brackets 32 the edges of which are engaged in notches formed in the elements 33 and 34 of a springactuated jack-knife toggle, the spring 35 of which serves to hold the elements in assembled relation. The ends of spring 35 are, as shown, engaged with pins .33a carried by elements 33 and 3d. The element 33 has a fork v33 engaged in the groove of collar 30, while the element 34 has an extension 3l projecting between stops 38 and .33 upon a standard 43 secured to the diaphragm casing. The extension 3l engages the upper stop 33 as the diaphragm is elevated under the influence of spring 22 and is depressed to a point where the spring 35 becomes effective to move the elements 33 and 34 to the position shown in Fig. 2. This action seats valve 28 so that suction exerted through tube 23 becomes effective and acting upon the diaphragm `draws the diaphragm downwardly moving the valve-holding element 23, more clearly sho-wn in Fig. 7, with it. This brings the extension 3l into engagement with the lower stop, with the result that the position of the toggle is reversed and the valve disengaged from its seat, admitting air to the diaphragm chamber so that the spring 22 mayl again act to elevate the diaphragm as shown in Fig. 2a. Movement of the toggle to its position illustrated in Fig. 2 is limited by engagement of element 34 with the extreme end 4l of the extension v3| and the seating of valve 28 which will, of course, limit downward movement of the element 33.

Secured tothe diaphragm chamber is a bracket 42 including a bearing 43 for a shaft 44. The shaft has secured thereon a pair of forked arms 45 one of which abuts the inner end of bearing 43. The forks of these arms receive pins 46 carried by the member 24. When the diaphragm reciprocates the shaft 44 is oscillated. Mounted upon the outer end of the shaft is a collar 41 having an angular groove 48 through which extends a pin 49 secured to the shaft. This collar has a depending arm 58 the end of which has a pin 5I for engagement with the fork I1 of the actuating arm I6 bearing operating pawl I5. Between the collar 41 and a tension regulating member 52 adjustably mounted upon the upper surface of bearing 43 and surrounding the shaft 44 is a spring 53 which serves normally to maintain the slidable collar with the pin 49 at the inner end of the groove.

This co-llar likewise includes an arm 54 engaging in a notch 55 in the end of one arm of a bell crank lever 58 pivoted in a vertical bearing 51 on bracket 42. The other arm 58 of this bell crank lever has its terminal disposed in the normal position of collar 41 in close proximity to the collar 39 of valve 28. When, as a result of operation of the motor, the spring I8 has been wound to a predetermined tension, the resistance to movement of arm 50 will cause this arm to remain stationary, whereupon the oscillation of the shaft 44 through the pin 49 operating in groove 48 will cause collar 41 to move inwardly thereby oscillating bell crank lever 5E and swinging the end of the second arm 58 thereof into the groove of collar 30 of the valve which, at this time, will be elevated. The valve is thus held in opened position and the motor rendered inoperative and it will remain inoperative until the tension o-f spring I0 is suiciently relieved to permit spring 53 to return the arm to its normal position. Since the motor is thus periodically rendered inoperative and will, during periods of operation, be operated only a time just sucient to complete the winding, it will be obvious that the apparatus will be relatively long lived as compared to an apparatus in which the motor is in continuous operation.

Since the construction illustrated is, obviously, capable of considerable modification Without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a iiuid pressure motor to Wind the spring, a movable valve controlling operation of the motor, and means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render the valve immovable.

2. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring, a valve movable to open and closed positions to control operation of the motor, a normally inoperative member to hold said valve in one of said positions, and means operative when the spring attains ya predetermined tension to render the rst-named means inoperative.

3. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to Wind the springincluding a reciprocating member, a valve to control operation of the member, a seat with which the valve coacts reciprocating with the member, means rendered operative by reciprocation of the member to seat and unseat said valve, and means operative when the spring has attained a predetermined tension for rendering the first-named means inoperative.

4. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be Wound, a iiuid pressure motor to wind the spring, a movable valve controlling operation of the motor, and cam-operated means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render the valve immovable.

5. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to Wind the spring, a valve movable to open and closed positions to control operation of the motor, a normally inoperative member to hold said valve in one of said positions, and cam-operated means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render said member operative.

-6. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring including a reciprocating member, a valve to control operation of the member, a seat with which the valve coacts reciprocating with the member, means rendered operative by reciprocation of the member to seat and unseat said valve, and cam-operated means operative When the spring has attained a predetermined tension for rendering the first-named means inoperative.

'7. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring, a movable valve controlling operation of the motor, camoperated means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render the valve immovable, and adjustable spring means resisting operation of said cam.

8. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring, a valve movable to open and closed positions to control operation of the motor, a normally inoperative member to hold said valve in one of said positions, cam-operated means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render said member operative, and adjustable spring means resisting operation of said cam.

9. In a spring-Winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring including a reciprocating member, a valve to control operation of the member, a seat with which the valve coacts reciprocating with the member, means rendered operative by reciprocation of the member to seat and unseat said valve, cam-operated means operative when the spring has attained a predetermined tension for rendering the firstnamed means inoperative, and adjustable spring means resisting operation of said cam.

10. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring, a movable valve controlling operation of the motor, means operative when the spring attains a predetermined tension to render the valve immovable comprising a shaft oscillated by operation of the motor, an arm on said shaft capable of axial movement thereon, and a spring Aeffective to prevent movement of the arm axially of the shaft until the spring to be wound attains a predetermined tension.

11. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring, a valve movable to open and closed positions to control operation of the motor, a normally inoperative member to hold said valve in one of said positions,

means operative when the spring attainsv a predetermined tension to render said member operative comprising a shaft oscillated by operation of the motor, an arm on said shaft capable of axial movement thereon, and a spring effective to prevent movement of the arm axially of the shaft until the spring to be Wound attains a predetermined tension.

12. In a spring-winding device, a spring to be wound, a motor to wind the spring including a reciprocating member, a valve to control operal tion of the member, a seat with which the valve 

